Court . . . Bad News and Good News

So today we had court.  First the bad news.  We did not pass court.  We did not really even have court.  The judge who was supposed to be there was not.  A new judge walked in.  He'd never seen our dossier before today.  This court has never done an adoption.  Not international, not domestic.  No adoption at all.  This judge had a lot of questions, and shook his head a lot.  He asked us to explain ourselves.  Why would you want to adopt these children?  Will you benefit financially from this adoption?  How will you care for their medical needs?  You are so young.  Why would you want so many children?  We answered each question as clearly as we could, and tried to keep our voices from trembling.  


How do we explain?  How do we explain to a judge who is not familiar with adoption that these two little boys are beautiful and worthy, and that we love them and want to be their family?  That God places the lonely in families, and that He has called us to the amazing calling of being His appointed family for these precious blessings?  How to explain?  We prayed all the way through the hearing, prayed and held hands.  


At first the judge indicated that we were not qualified to adopt these children, and was talking as though it was just not going to happen.  We prayed.  More talking in the courtroom.  More questions.  Then he said perhaps sometime next month he would see us again.  We prayed some more.  The judge listed several additional documents that he wants to see before he can proceed.  Our awesome facilitator amazingly convinced the judge to see us again tomorrow.    Tomorrow!  


So that is the good news.  Our facilitator is running around begging people for the documents right now, and we have court tomorrow at 3:15 pm.  That's 5:15 am Pacific time, so anybody who wants to join us in prayer, we would really appreciate it.  


All I can tell you is this:  there is resistance here, and we need prayer!  God can do all things.  God does not want to leave these boys as orphans.  God places the lonely in families.  God loves these little boys so much.  He has brought us this far.  Provided everything we have needed so far.  Kept the boys safe this long.  He has not brought all of these things to this point only to have a judge deny this adoption.  I have faith that God is bigger than this.  I have faith that God has brought us to this point because He has a rescue plan for these boys, and we are trusting Him that He is in control.  Please pray with us!